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| Martin McGuinness: Ex-deputy first minister will not stand in NI election | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Martin McGuinness, former IRA leader turned peacemaker, has confirmed he will not stand in the Northern Ireland Assembly election. | Martin McGuinness, former IRA leader turned peacemaker, has confirmed he will not stand in the Northern Ireland Assembly election. |
| He quit as deputy first minister in a row over a botched green energy scheme, sparking an election on 2 March. | He quit as deputy first minister in a row over a botched green energy scheme, sparking an election on 2 March. |
| He had been in the post since entering NI's power-sharing assembly in 2007 with ex-political enemy Ian Paisley. | He had been in the post since entering NI's power-sharing assembly in 2007 with ex-political enemy Ian Paisley. |
| Mr McGuinness, 66, has been ill for a number of weeks and said this was a factor in his decision. | Mr McGuinness, 66, has been ill for a number of weeks and said this was a factor in his decision. |
| He was one of the IRA's negotiators in secret talks with the British government in 1972. | He was one of the IRA's negotiators in secret talks with the British government in 1972. |
| Mr McGuinness told the BBC that he had faced a "big decision" over his future and that he will never again be "an elected representative" in politics. | Mr McGuinness told the BBC that he had faced a "big decision" over his future and that he will never again be "an elected representative" in politics. |
| "The question I ask myself is: Are you capable, are you physically capable, of fighting this election with the intensity that elections need to be fought? | "The question I ask myself is: Are you capable, are you physically capable, of fighting this election with the intensity that elections need to be fought? |
| "And the honest answer is that I am not physically capable or able to fight this election, so I will not be a candidate." | "And the honest answer is that I am not physically capable or able to fight this election, so I will not be a candidate." |
| He added that his successor as Sinn Féin's leader in Northern Ireland would be announced "next week". | |
| Details of Mr McGuinness' condition have not been disclosed officially by Sinn Féin but Irish national broadcaster RTÉ has reported that he has a rare heart condition. | |
| Mr McGuinness said the illness had taken its toll but that he was "determined to defeat it". | |
| "I'm also very determined to continue to play a political role - it won't be an electoral role although in the election I will be wholeheartedly behind the Sinn Féin candidates and the new leadership." | |
| Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams expressed his "heartfelt thanks" to Mr McGuinness and said he needs to take "time out to get better for himself, for his family and for our struggle". | |
| "On behalf of Sinn Féin and republicans everywhere I want to send him our best wishes. | |
| "Give him the space to get better and (we'll) increase our efforts so that when he returns the process of change has advanced." |